Methotrexate

[Dexter1414]

Need advice please I’m taking methotrexate just wondering if ok to take this as not getting a response from my rheumatology team when I email them 

[zen4]

Hi there Is there a nurse helpline? You could try that or your GP Everyone is different so it's difficult to give advice over this forum without knoiwing all the relevant facts Sorty Hope you get a response soon

[Runrig01]

it doesn’t say what the ingredients are. You’d be best popping into your pharmacist and checking with them. Many supplements interact with medications resulting in not getting enough of your med, or getting toxic levels. So not something we can advise. Also depends on other meds too

[Dexter1414 in reply to Runrig01]

Are you on methotrexate are you taking any vitamins

[Runrig01]

yes I’m on mtx, and take vit B complex and magnesium, both recommended by my rheumatologist. It’s not only mtx to take into consideration though. It’s best to speak with your pharmacist

[Dexter1414 in reply to Runrig01]

How many tablets you take a week of methotrexate , I want to take multi vitamins and magnesium I’m currently taking vitamin d everyday cause my doctor told me too as you probably know methotrexate lowers your immune system have you picked up any bugs or colds while on it as I got tonsillitis and was on antibiotics but because I felt unwell with it I stopped methotrexate for a week then went back on it week after

[Runrig01 in reply to Dexter1414]

I take 10 a week. I’m also on a biological and steroids, and have had no viral infections since Covid started. I keep well

[AgedCrone in reply to Dexter1414]

Dexter you don’t seem to want to accept what you are being told.

The general rule is if you are on any medically prescribed medication for anythjng, the sensible thing to do is to ask whoever prescribed your meds if it is OK to take whatever you want to take, If you can’t contact that person, try taking your prescription - along with the supplement you want to take to the pharmacist who makes up that prescription and ask him/her.

On the whole your rheumy team will normally prescribe any supplements they think you need.

So why not try that ? We on this forum can only tell you what we take & we will have all done our homework. ..& got the go ahead.

Good Luck…let’s hope you don’t need anything as they can get really expensive.

[Dexter1414 in reply to AgedCrone]

Sorry but I suffer badly with anxiety that’s why

[AgedCrone in reply to Dexter1414]

If you are really stressing over this do run your questions by your doctor or your pharmacist.

I’m sure you have a very good diet & most probably are getting all the nourishment you need. Many on here never need to add to their regular meal routine. I’m an old lady with other problems as well as RA…I just asked my consultant if I should take any supplement & he laughed & said “Oh go on if you must!”

[Ali_H]

you could go to local pharmacy and ask for their advice 👍🏼

[wilbertjellyfish]

Unfortunately there are a lot of things sold to people like supplements that they don't actually need. It worse if you have anxiety and doublely worse if your also on medication. There is so much money spent marketing things for every different period of our lives....that money is made playing on people's fear.

Like others have said ask your pharmacist they understand drug interactions better than the anyone else probably. Also ask to do you need that, would a general purpose multivitamin do the same?

I'm a vet and currently there is a trend towards companies saying they make dog food individual to your dog. They put your dog's name on a bag of likely generic dog food and charge twice the price. It's all marketing. A lot of supplements are the same.

[Otto11]

I would ask a local Pharmacist. They have more knowledge on this type of thing plus they can look up any interactions for you.

[Colaba]

Somebody must have prescribed it. It is regarded as very effective, but there are always questions. I have been taking it since 2021. Apart from diminished strength since aquiring RA I have had only a few unpleasant symptoms.

It is astonishing (no , perhaps it's not) that you cannot contact an appropriate professional.

My folk think Methotrexate is working for me, but it seems to be regarded with a degree of wariness.

Please do not regard this as medical advice. Demand attention from somewhere that can legitmately provide it.

Will Taylor

[greynot]

When I was first diagnosed in 2019, I was told by the rheumatology meds nurse not to take multi vitamins and to check with them for any other supplements. I asked, and got cleared for a couple of things, and advised against some other specifics ( which I fortunately wasn't after taking)

If you can't get a response from your rheumy dept, a qualified pharmacist is probably the best for meds interactions. That's a significant part of their professional knowledge.

One principle is anything that boosts your immunity (eg echinacea) would be working against the meds (in your, and my case methotrexate) which are aiming to damp down your immune system to control RA

[Jacojudy303]

As everyone has said, check out any contraindications with the pharmacy if you're not having any success with the rheumy team. I'm sceptical of multivitamins as they're not tailored to you specifically and we generally aren't vitamin deficient. I'd hold off until you get professional advice and if you are told you actually need a particular vitamin. Stay well x

[Impie]

Hi, intake body identical progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone plus lots of vitamins. Rheumatologist and menopause clinic and GP are aware . Good luck and yes ask pharmacist they are usually very knowledgeable and there are lots of research papers online examining supplements especially magnesium for RA patients x good luck

[Dexter1414 in reply to Impie]

Are you taking magnesium are you on methotrexate

[Impie in reply to Dexter1414]

Hi no I personally don't take magnesium and yes I'm on five methotrexate tablets weekly

[Retirednhs]

Hi l have been on Methotrexate now for 12 years and found injections suit me better than tablets and the folic acid as you will have been told is for the 6 days between the day of your weekly dose of methotrexate . It doesn't suit every one but it does help with the RA and l hope it's a success for you.

[Dexter1414 in reply to Retirednhs]

With the folic acid they told me to take once a week 5mg did you have any side affects with methotrexate

[Retirednhs in reply to Dexter1414]

Hi , are you sure it's the methotrexate as that is usually once a week and the folic acid every day except the day you take the methotrexate . Recheck with the hospital or your GP it as maybe it is mistake in your instructions or you have misunderstood what you were told . As retired senior SRN I have never known it the way you are taking it BUT l could be wrong . Hope you get some clarity asap. Good luck

[bienassis]

So sorry Dexter I have no experience with the product you mention. I tend to steer clear of this sort of thing unless advised by a doctor. It looks harmless enough, but you don’t want to mess up the good effects of methotrexate. I have to say, methotrexate has always been my best friend - although I was warned off once taking “live” vaccines against malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases, if travelling to countries where those diseases are widespread.

Good Luck!

[WilfDog]

HiI take potent supplements and therapeutic grade essential oils alongside my biologic and steroids but I always check with my consultant first the complementary medicines that I take. Fortunately she is on board with them all, but each of us are different and so you need to run it by your rheumatologist.

The supplements I take helped with my menopause symptoms. Good luck xx

[Dexter1414 in reply to WilfDog]

I want to take this with my methotrexate cause I think I have menopause Aswell

Blue

[WilfDog]

I take potent supplements and therapeutic grade essential oils alongside my biologic amd steroids, but I checked the ingredients with my consultant first incase there was any interactions I was unaware of

[Koroush]

alway take medical advise. Ring your GP.